A QuiltPlan piecing reference
Strip Blocks
Halves & Rail Fence: equal strips, no diagonal seams
The simplest pieced blocks are just equal-width strips, sewn together along their long edges. No diagonals, no trimming triangles. Halves is two strips; Rail Fence is three. Same math either way, just divide by however many strips you're using.
Strip width (always the full block): finished size + ½″.
Each strip's height: finished size ÷ N, + ½″, where N is how many strips.
Halves (2 strips)
two fabrics, split evenly top and bottom
| Finished | Width | Each strip |
|---|---|---|
| 3″ | 3½″ | 2″ |
| 4″ | 4½″ | 2½″ |
| 6″ | 6½″ | 3½″ |
| Finished | Width | Each strip |
|---|---|---|
| 8″ | 8½″ | 4½″ |
| 9″ | 9½″ | 5″ |
| 12″ | 12½″ | 6½″ |
Cut one rectangle of each fabric, sew together along the long edge, press toward the darker fabric.
Rail Fence (3 strips)
three fabrics, equal bands
| Finished | Width | Each strip |
|---|---|---|
| 4½″ | 5″ | 2″ |
| 6″ | 6½″ | 2½″ |
| 9″ | 9½″ | 3½″ |
| Finished | Width | Each strip |
|---|---|---|
| 7½″ | 8″ | 3″ |
| 12″ | 12½″ | 4½″ |
| 15″ | 15½″ | 5½″ |
Sew the three strips together lengthwise, press seams toward the darkest strip. Pick a finished size divisible by 3 (4½, 6, 9, 12…) and every strip cuts to a clean fraction. Other sizes still work, just round up to the nearest 1/8″.
The same math works for any number of strips. Just divide the finished size by however many you're using.
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